Bats at the end of the world: new distributional data and fossil records from Patagonia, Argentina

UDRIZAR SAUTHIER, D. E.; TETA, P.; FORMOSO, A.E.; BERNARDIS, A.; WALLACE, P.; PARDIÑAS, U.F.J.

MAMMALIA

WALTER DE GRUYTER & CO

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2013 p. 307 - 315

0025-1461

We report new recent and fossil records in Patagonia for six and three bat species, respectively. These findings significantly increase the previously known number of localities for these mammals in this entire region, filling gaps between previous references for some species (e.g., Histiotus macrotus) and/or extending by 140 - 350 km the range of others (e.g., Myotis chiloensis, M. levis, Lasiurus varius). In addition, we report for the second time the vespertilionid bat L. blossevillii in Patagonia. Fossils are mostly restricted to Late Holocene and the recorded assemblages are similar to the recent ones. A preliminary analysis of richness indicates that bat diversity south of Colorado river (around 39ºS) decreases from 5 - 6 species in the northwestern to 1 species in the southeastern, changing abruptly around 43º - 46ºS. Compared with similar latitudes of Northern Hemisphere, bat diversity in the Neotropics follows a similar pattern, with <20 taxa occurring South of 35ºS.